The Los Angeles Dodgers welcomed their latest star Wednesday. Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, contemporary off signing a document 12-year contract price $325 million, was formally launched at a press convention at Dodger Stadium. His $325 million deal is the most important pitching contract in historical past, narrowly edging out Gerrit Cole’s $324 million take care of the New York Yankees.

“Good afternoon. My identify is Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the L.A. Dodgers,” Yamamoto mentioned in English to open his press convention. “I’m past ecstatic to change into a member of this historic franchise, and can’t categorical how a lot it means to me to have the ability to name Los Angeles my new residence.”

Historically, No. 18 is the “ace” quantity in Japan, and it had been worn beforehand by Hiroki Kuroda and Kenta Maeda with the Dodgers. Yamamoto mentioned he attended a 2019 postseason sport began by Maeda at Dodger Stadium. That have, when he was simply 19 years outdated, motivated him to pitch in MLB because it started to promote him on the environment at Dodger Stadium.

“It was essential to be with a staff that wishes to win. Not solely now, however sooner or later as properly. I actually felt all through the entire course of, the Dodgers offered that chance most,” Yamamoto mentioned. “… I promise to all of the followers of L.A. that I’ll focus every thing to change into a greater participant and a world champion as a member of the Dodgers.”

Yamamoto is, after all, becoming a member of two-way famous person Shohei Ohtani with the Dodgers. Los Angeles signed Ohtani earlier this month to a document 10-year, $700 million contract. Heavy deferrals — heavy as in Ohtani will probably be paid solely $2 million a 12 months for the subsequent 10 years — lowers the present-day worth to roughly $460 million, which remains to be the richest contract in baseball historical past.

Ohtani and Yamamoto have been teammates within the World Baseball Traditional this spring once they helped Japan go undefeated en path to successful the WBC championship. Yamamoto visited Dodger Stadium throughout his recruitment interval and Ohtani was concerned with the assembly, although he downplayed Ohtani’s function in convincing him to signal with the Dodgers.

“[Ohtani] wasn’t the only real purpose I made a decision to come back right here. Even when he determined to go some other place, I in all probability would’ve ended up on the Dodgers,” Yamamoto mentioned. “… The truth that Shohei [deferred so much salary] signaled to me it wasn’t simply the entrance workplace. The gamers have purchased into the successful environment as properly.”

Yamamoto turned solely 25 in August and is likely one of the most adorned pitchers within the historical past of Japan’s Nippon Skilled Baseball. He is received three straight Pacific League MVPs and three straight Eiji Sawamura Awards, Japan’s equal of the Cy Younger. In 2023, Yamamoto threw 171 innings with a 1.16 ERA and 176 strikeouts. He has a 1.72 ERA in seven NPB seasons.

Given his age and pedigree, Yamamoto was perhaps essentially the most wanted free agent pitcher ever. He reportedly rejected an an identical 12-year, $325 million supply from the New York Mets, and a 10-year contract price $300 million from Cole’s Yankees. A number of different groups, together with the NL West rival San Francisco Giants, additionally aggressively pursued Yamamoto.

Yamamoto’s contract features a $50 million signing bonus and choose outs after 2029 and 2031, his age 30 and 32 seasons, respectively. The Dodgers can even pay a $50.625 million posting price to the Orix Buffaloes, Yamamoto’s former staff in Japan. Half the posting price is due inside 14 days. The opposite half will probably be paid out over the subsequent 18 months.

The Dodgers at present have an estimated $286 million payroll for aggressive stability tax functions in 2024, third highest behind the Mets ($298 million) and Yankees ($290 million). Even with these document contracts for Ohtani and Yamamoto, Los Angeles remains to be comfortably beneath the franchise document $297 million payroll set again in 2015.

Along with signing Ohtani and Yamamoto, the Dodgers additionally traded for righty Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Manuel Margot, and re-signed righty Joe Kelly this offseason. Los Angeles is anticipated to pursue one other beginning pitcher, plus bench and bullpen assist between now and spring coaching.  

The Dodgers received 100 video games in 2023, and the NL West for the tenth time within the final 11 years. They have been shortly swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks within the Division Collection, nevertheless, and have been outscored 19-6 within the three video games.